Veterans’ Fundraiser Convicted Again as Watchdog Warns of Misleading Tactics

Editor

November 16, 2025
5 min read

Veterans’ Fundraiser Convicted Again as Watchdog Warns of Misleading Tactics

Concerns about illegal street collections in the days leading up to Remembrance Day have returned to the foreground, as a veterans’ organisation was convicted for unlicensed fundraising in the City of London for the second time in a year.

We R Blighty, a company already under scrutiny for its public collection methods, was issued fines and costs totalling £3,640 after City of London magistrates found the organisation and two of its directors guilty of holding collections without a licence in the Square Mile. The offences took place earlier this year at Cannon Street, London Bridge and Leadenhall Market.

The convictions came on the same day a report by the Fundraising Regulator found nine breaches of its code of practice by the organisation. The watchdog said there was a significant risk that donors could have been misled by confusing messaging which suggested an affiliation with a reputable veterans’ charity. It also identified “aggressive and unprofessional” conduct among some of We R Blighty’s fundraisers. The full report is available via the regulator’s website.

At the time of the most recent offences, both founder Ben Mills and director Danielle Vidler were already aware that earlier legal proceedings were underway for previous unlicensed collections which later came before the court in June.

John Fletcher, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s licensing committee, said the behaviour contrasted starkly with the approach taken by established veterans’ charities.
“As a veteran of 17 years’ service, I understand how important it is to support reputable veterans’ charities, especially at a time of year when we remember the service and sacrifice of the men and women who fought and died representing our country. Their quiet, dignified approach is in stark contrast to the way We R Blighty go about their business, and the shameless way in which they carried on collecting despite repeated warnings and an impending court case.”

He added that the latest conviction “is testament to the diligent work of our licensing and City Solicitors teams, and sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate unlicensed collections on the streets of the Square Mile.”

At a hearing on 5 November, Mills admitted six offences and Vidler pleaded guilty to five, alongside six offences committed by the company itself. Mills was fined £240, Vidler £220 and the company £1,200. The organisation was ordered to pay £1,500 in legal costs and a victim surcharge of £480.

The offences were brought under the Police, Factories and C. (Misc. Provisions) Act 1916 and the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1987.

This is the second case in less than a year. In June, Mills and Vidler pleaded guilty to 14 offences each for collections carried out between August 2024 and February 2025, resulting in the company and its directors being ordered to pay £1,792 in fines and £1,700 in costs.

The case comes at a time when genuine veterans’ organisations are calling for sustained, transparent public support. Readers seeking dependable advice on vetting charities may find helpful guidance from sector experts such as the Charity Excellence Framework, which provides tools for identifying reputable and well-regulated organisations.

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